The answer could be "no" for educators at one Schenectady elementary school.

City school officials acknowledge they were duped by a kindergartener who they say pretended to be a new student on Wednesday after she rode the wrong bus to Yates Magnet School.

"While the student did impersonate another student, which didn't raise any red flags, the situation has brought to light some other serious issues that need to be addressed on our end," Superintendent Larry Spring said. He said that while the girl, a Howe International Magnet School student, was wrong to mislead school staff, "we have to remember that she is a kindergartener who was alone."

The girl's ordeal began early on Wednesday morning when she boarded the wrong school bus, which was driven by a substitute driver. Here is what happened after that, according to the district:

When she arrived at Yates, the child was asked by name if she was the new student. She replied that she was, and administrators began the intake process. She continued to respond to the name of the new student and even wrote it on papers throughout the day.

Late Wednesday afternoon, her frantic mother called the district offices to report that her daughter had not come home on the school bus.

The woman was told to call police who launched an investigation.

Soon after that the district discovered the mix up.

"We are very happy that the student was located and is fine," said Spring. "We regret that Ms. Rodriguez spent yesterday afternoon worrying about her child." The district said it has discussed the matter with the mother.

Still, the woman, identified by News Channel 13 as Patricia Rodriguez, told the television station Thursday that the district's explanation was not enough to make her feel better.

"She's a kindergartner, that's Number One, this other child is a first-grader," she told the station. "It's still upsetting to me."

The superintendent said the district hopes to avoid similar mistakes in the future by making it clear to parents what bus their children should board each day, improving the communication between substitute bus drivers and the school as well as communication with parents when students miss school.

"It can be confusing for both the bus driver and the parents when different buses with different destinations pick up kids at the same stop," Spring said. "We are exploring ways to help make it clear to parents which bus their child should be riding each day, regardless of who is driving."

The incident has also prompted the district to examine how it handles students who are new to the school district.

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"We will be taking a close look at our school intake process and develop a system to ensure the identification of any new students as they enter the schools," Spring said. "There was a series of events, that while unusual, we should have discovered where this child was."